Margaret H. Shepard

CHARLOTTE – Margaret Harrell Shepard, died July 15, 2007. She was the widow of Richard C. Shepard.

A celebration of life memorial service was held at Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church in her native home town of Woodland in Northampton County on Friday.

Margaret was educated in the public schools of Northampton County, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Shaw University with a major in Sociology. She lived much of her adult life in Oxford, NC as an educator, where she worked and later retired as an outstanding teacher. She was also an accomplished businesswoman and the co- owner and manager of two mortuaries.

She is survived by a son, Kenneth Harrell Shepard; and three sisters, Dorothy, Bessie and Vergie.

Alvah Burgess

CONWAY n Alvah Burgess, 84, died Monday, July 23, 2007 at Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville. He had been preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Gladys Vann Burgess.

Mr. Burgess was an area farmer and worked at Resinol Corporation as a Kettle Operator. A member of Conway Baptist Church, he was a World War II Veteran serving in the United States Army, and was a loving father, grandfather, and a great-grandfather.

Survivors include a daughter, Carolyn B. Lloyd of Chesapeake, Va.; son, Jerry Burgess and his wife, Beverly of Conway, daughter, Linda B. Knight and her husband, James Larry of Conway; seven grandchildren, Timothy David Lloyd and his fianc\u00E9, Kim Hartman, John Anthony Loyd and his wife, Leigh, Alan Burgess and his wife, Michelle, Scott Burgess, Anita K. Burch and her husband, James Robert, II, Jenny K. Hedgepeth and her husband, Buddy and Curtis Knight; five great-grandchildren, Chris Storey, Hayley Hope Burgess, Holden Burgess, Madison Burch, and Jaden David Loyd; and one sister, Janice B. Britton and her husband, Cecil, of Conway.

Graveside services were held Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at 2 p.m. in the Town of Conway Cemetery with the Rev. Willie McLawhorn officiating.

The family received friends Tuesday, July 24, 2007 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Bridgers Funeral Home, Inc., Conway and have requested that anyone wishing to share a memorial gift, please, do so to the Conway Baptist Church Organ Fund, P.O. Box 160, Conway, NC 27820.

Armetha Barnes

HAMPTON, Va. – Armetha Barnes, 98, a native of Hertford County, died June 22, 2007 at Sentara Hampton Complex.

She was a member of Bethel Christian Church.

She retired from Roanoke-Chowan Community College as a custodian.

Survivors include two sons,

Rev. John Barnes of Ahoskie and Charles Barnes of New York, NY;

six daughters, Fannie Lewis, Annie Richards, Mary Ward and Catherine Wilson, all of Hampton, Va., Essie Jones of Richmond, and Rosa Mitchell of Ahoskie;

two sisters, Mary Jennings of Hampton and Dorothy Cherry of Murfreesboro; 31 grandchildren, 76 great-grandchildren; and 35 great-great grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday at New Haven Baptist Church by the Rev. Robert Sessoms.

Burial will be in Carver Park Cemetery, Murfreesboro.

Hunter’s Funeral Home, Inc.,

Ahoskie, is in charge.

Essie Picot

MURFREESBORO n Essie Picot, 92, a native of Hertford County, died July 22, 2007 at Twin Oaks.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Mill Neck Baptist Church, Como, by the Rev. Melvin Wilson. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A wake will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at Hertford County Undertakers Chapel, Winton.

Survivors include one son, Joe Earl Picot of Oxen Hill, Md.; two daughters, Hannah Cooper and Shirley Riddick, both of Murfreesboro; one brother, Roger Myrick of Courtland, Va.; 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Naomi E. Barden

GATESVILLE – Naomi Elizabeth &uot;Boots&uot; Barden, 73, of Wiggins Farm Lane, died July 23, 2007.

A funeral will be Thursday at 11 a.m. in Stallings Funeral Chapel.

Beulah P. Holloman

RODUCO – Beulah Phelps Holloman, 84, a native of Bertie County, died July 24, 2007, in Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie. She was the widow of Joseph Hilton Holloman.

Mrs. Holloman was a member of Eure Christian Church, she retired from the cafeteria at Buckland Elementary School.

Survivors include three daughters, Reba H. Bailey of Fountain, Becky H. Edwards of Gates and Rose H. Jarman of Smithfield; two sons, Jimmie R. Holloman and Ernie B. Holloman, both of Eure; two sisters, Dot Williams of Eure and Lorene Brookshire of Summerville, S.C.; two brothers, Harvey Phelps of Portsmouth and Frank Phelps of Cofield; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 3 p.m. Thursday in Eure Christian Church by the Rev. Michael Brinkley and the Rev. Dr. Wayne Proctor. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Miller Funeral Home, 304 Main St., Gatesville, is in charge and the family will receive friends at the home of Becky Edwards, 49 Hackley Road, Gates.

Alexander C. Powell Sr.

SUNBURY – Alexander C. Powell Sr., 79, died July 22, 2007.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday in St. John AME Zion Church. Stallings Funeral Chapel, Gatesville, is in charge.

Thomas E. Rountree

SUFFOLK, Va. – Thomas &uot;Earl&uot; Rountree, 76, a native of Gates County, died July 23, 2007.

Rountree retired from Portsmouth Water Dept. as the supervisor of maintenance. He was an active member of Liberty Spring Christian Church, served in the National Guard and was a member of Floyd Byrd and Box Elder Hunt Clubs.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret H. Rountree; daughters, Regina Derby and Benita Rhodes, both of Suffolk; four grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday in Liberty Spring Christian Church by the Rev. Allen Lancaster. Burial in be in the church cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Nansemond Suffolk Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 1515, Suffolk, VA 23439. Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.

Eunice S. Banks

Eunice Scott Banks, 86, of the 1100 block of Selden Ave., died July 20, 2007, in her residence. Born in Winton, N.C., she was a retired elementary school teacher for the City of Norfolk public schools after 43 years of service. She was a member of First Baptist Church, NAACP and Epicureans Inc. She received her B.S. in education from Elizabeth City State Teachers College and her M.S. in education from New York University. She received Meritorious Service in 1982 from the City of Norfolk’s school board. Surviving are her son, retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. William F. Banks Jr.; daughter-in-law, Redia Anderson Banks of Houston, Texas; sister, Doris M. Griffin of Hampton; brothers, John E. Scott of Hampton and Walter T. Scott of Winton, N.C.; grandchildren, Tamika M. Baker of San Antonio, Texas, LaTosha D. Banks of Washington, D.C., Christopher T. Banks of Atlanta, Jarred R. Payne of Houston, Texas, Michael S. Banks of Knoxville, Tenn., Taylor N. Payne of Houston; and great-grandchild, Landen J. Baker of San Antonio. A funeral will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church, 418 E. Bute St., Norfolk, by Dr. Robert G. Murray. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Norfolk. Viewing will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday. Hale Funeral Home, Ballentine Boulevard and Princess Anne Road, is in charge.

Margaret T. Haste

WINDSOR — Margaret Thompson Haste, 92, a native of Bertie County, died July 24, 2007.

A graveside funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Friday at Edge-wood Cemetery by the Rev. Reese Blanchard and Dr. Carrol Tarkington. The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 26 at Walker Funeral Home. Memorial gifts may be made to the Windsor Fire Department, PO Box 508, Windsor, NC 27983.

Miss Haste was a member of Cashie Baptist Church, the WMU and Historic Hope Foundation. She also retired from Wachovia Bank and Trust Company as a bookkeeper with 27 1/2 years of service.

She is survived by a niece and nephew.

Lloyd Bowen Jr.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Lloyd Irvin Bowen Jr., 84, a native of Martin County, died July 23, 2007.

The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday at Walker Funeral Home, Windsor, followed by a 1 p.m. graveside funeral service in Edgewood Cemetery by the Rev. Robert Harkey.

Bowen was a bus driver with the Tidewater Regional Transit and retired after 37 years of service.

Survivors include his wife, Jeanne L. Bowen; a son, David R. Bowen of Cilero, NY; two daughters, Donna and Debbie; two sisters, Syble Meeks of Fayetteville and Dorothy McCarthy of Medford, OR; five brothers, George of Colerain, Millard of Brockport, Hubbard of Milledgevill, GA, Claude of Huntersville and Jimmy of Jacksonville, FL; and six grandchildren.